Principal investigator FAQs

"[Being a principal investigator] is personally satisfying and helps advance the field of medicine."-Matthew Riethof, MD, Fairview Clinics - Bloomington

Why should I consider becoming a PI?Performing clinical trials will provide you both personal and financial benefits. You and your clinic will get visibility as being on the ‘cutting edge’ of clinical medicine.

Financially, Clinical Trials Services (CTS) reimburses your practice for visits at the highest payer rate. For each clinical trial, CTS will negotiate with the sponsor for reimbursement for all study visits, principal investigators’ responsibilities and time.

I don’t have any experience. Why would a sponsor want me as an investigator? You can’t have experience without getting experience. Industry sponsors look for new investigators as well as investigators with experience. Sponsors view highly motivated and committed new investigators with a strong support system very favorably. CTS provides this support system and helps you to develop a good track record.

How much paperwork is involved in a trial? At the initial start of a clinical trial, there are some regulatory documents that will need to be submitted. The clinical trial coordinator will assist in the completion of these documents. CTS and Fairview Research Administration together will collect and review the data, store regulatory documentation and ensure that all studies meet regulatory compliance.

I have a busy clinic schedule. How can I be an investigator? CTS will customize to your clinic’s needs so the time commitment on the part of the investigator and clinic staff will be kept to a minimum. The Clinical Trial Coordinator will assist throughout the entire process, including scheduling and all other clinical trial-related activities.

What types of trials are available? There are drug (not device) trials in all therapeutic areas such as cardiovascular, diabetes, oncology, allergy and asthma, etc. The pharmaceutical industry has more than 1,000 compounds in the pipeline and spends more than $18 billion for clinical research trials. Investigators and facilities are needed for this research. CTS will present trials in your area(s) of interest for your review and possible participation.

How many patients are needed for a typical trial and how long do they last? Study accrual is negotiated with each sponsor. Typically, you are asked to enroll five to 10 patients over a six to nine month period. The typical trial length also varies by sponsor. It may last as little as eight weeks or up to 52 weeks with a possible extension.

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